Variety of geranium named Simone

ABSTRACT

A new ivy geranium showing many favorable new traits that have been lacking in the ivy geraniums currently seen on the market. The variety has proven to be very heat tolerant both indoors and out. The vegetative growth is not as affected by high temperatures and the bloom burns less than is typical of this dark red color. The plant body is much stronger and fuller in habit, when compared to Yale, the current market ivy geranium in this color class. Cuttings are more readily available and root much faster than the current varieties. The deep, rich red color of the semi-double bloom appear velvet-like atop medium green foliage creating a full yet attractive hanging basket.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium×peltatum known by the varietal name Simone (Oglevee Ltd.U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,033, French No. 609 Guipolac). The new variety wasdiscovered in a selective breeding program by Messrs. Jacques, Mauriceand Bernard Guillou. The new variety is a selection from the crossing ofCorsaire U.S. Plant Pat. No. 423×No. 85. The new variety has shorterfoliage and earlier flowering than its parentage.

The new cultivar was discovered in 1985 at 55 rue Godard, 35400Saint-Malo, France, was first asexually reproduced by cuttings during1986 and 1987 at Saint-Malo, France, and more recently has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings at Oglevee Ltd. inConnellsville, Pa. It has been found to retain its distinctcharacteristics through successive propagations.

The new cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville,Pa., using full light, 60° F. night temperature, 68° F. day temperature,71° F. vent temperature, and grown in a soilless media with constantfertilizer of 200-250 parts per million nitrogen and potassium, has aresponse time from a rooted cutting to a flowering plant in a four inch(10 cm) pot of six weeks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing illustrates a new cultivar, the color being astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed descriptions set forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee Ltd. in Connellsville,Pa. The plants were started as rooted cuttings which were potted on Feb.17, 1988 and flowered on Sept. 15, 1988. Three 10 cm pots were pottedinto a 26 cm hanging basket and the plant was maintained until Feb. 24,1989 when the color readings were taken. The plant histories were takenof plants blossomed under full light in a greenhouse and color readingswere taken indoors under 200-220 foot candles of cool white fluorescentlight. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×peltatum.

Commercial.--Ivy Geranium (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,033) Simone.

Form: Cascading mound habit.

Height: 17 cm above media surface.

Growth: Free branching, upright mound with cascading side growth, freeand early flowering.

Strength: Has an upright mound shape while allowing outer branches tocascade over the sides of the pot.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment; very faint zone present.

Leaves:

Size.--5.5-7.5 cm across.

Shape.--Reniform, cordate base.

Margin.--Pedately lobed.

Texture.--Smooth; slightly reflective; leathery.

Color.--Top: Green Group 137A. Bottom: Yellow-Green Group 146A.

Ribs and veins.--Palmated venation; Color: Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Petioles: 2-5 cm in length;

Color.--Green Group 137C.

Stem:

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Internodes.--2-5.5 cm in length.

THE BUD

Shape: Upright; hemispherical cluster.

Size: 1.5-2 cm across.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Continuous; upright; semi-hemispherical; some shatteringpresent.

Size: 7.5-8.5 cm across when fully open.

Borne: Florets on pedicel; pedicel on peduncle; umbel 4-6 cm abovefoliage canopy.

Florets:

Form.--Flat to slightly cupped.

Color.--Top: Red Group 45A with Red Group 53A shading in at the edgescreating a velvet like color. Venation on upper three petals: Red-PurpleGroup 50A with a blotch of Red-Purple Group 61C between veins. Bottom:White with an overspray effect of Red Group 45B.

Petals.--10-12 in number, separate, not united; margin entire.

Floret size.--4.5-5 cm across.

Texture and appearance.--Smooth; from a distance the color appears adeep velvet red, only on close inspection do the individual colors standout.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--4-6.

Shape.--Elongated, twisted, some with anther attached.

Color.--Red-Purple Group 61C.

Pedicel: 1-1.5 cm in length.

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Peduncle: 7-12 cm in length.

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146A. Arises from the node opposite leafpetiole.

Lasting quality: This variety is more heat tolerant and tends to be moreshatter resistant than the current ivies.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.--2-3 cm in length.

Filaments.--9-10 cm in length; irregular shape; white to light pink incolor.

Pollen.--Golden brown.

Pistils:

Number.--One; 6-7 part stigma.

Length.--8-10 mm.

Stigma.--6 or 7 parted; Red Purple.

Style.--3 mm in length; white.

Ovaries: Very pubescent; pale green; superior 3-5 mm in length, 2-3 mmacross.

Fruit: None observed.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

This distinct ivy geranium shows many favorable new traits that havebeen lacking in the ivy geraniums currently seen on the market.

This variety has proven to be very heat tolerant both indoors and out.The vegetative growth is not as affected by high temperatures and thebloom burns less than is typical of this dark red color.

The plant body is much stronger and full in habit as compared to Yale,the current market ivy geranium in this color class.

Cuttings are more readily available and root much faster than thecurrent varieties.

The deep, rich red color of the semi-double bloom appear velvet-likeatop medium green foliage creating a full yet attractive hanging basket.

Simone is best compared with Yale. Simone is more clear red, not asblue. Yale is a dark, almost blood-velvet. Simone has a hint of clearerred in the petal. Simone has superior foliage, darker foliage, with lessOedema problems, a physiological problem expressed in corky wounds allover the leaf underside. Simone is more heat tolerant and more uniformin habit, an earlier flowerer, and more floriferous.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct ivy geranium plant as shown anddescribed herein, and characterized in heat tolerance both indoors andout, vegetative growth is not as affected by high temperatures and thebloom burns less than is typical of this dark red color, the plant bodyis strong and full in habit, the cuttings are more readily available androot much faster than the current varieties, and the deep, rich redcolor of the semi-double bloom appear velvet-like atop medium greenfoliage creating a full yet attractive hanging basket.